III. Why is faith required, that we may receive benefit by Christ ?
For these reasons : — (1.) In respect of God ; (2.) In respect of Christ ; (3.) In respect of the creature ; (4.) In respect of our comforts.
1. In respect of God, that our hearts may be possessed with a full apprehension of his grace, who in the new covenant appeareth not as a revenging and condemning God, but as a pardoning God. This reason is rendered by the apostle, Rom. iv. 16, 'It is of faith, that it might be of grace.' The law brought in the terror of God, by being the instrument of revealing sin, and the punishment due thereunto : ver. 15, * The law worketh wrath, for where there is no law there is no transgression,' no such stinging sense of it ; but the gospel brought in grace. The law stated the breach, but the gospel showed the way of our recovery. And therefore faith doth more agree with grace, as it makes God more amiable and lovely to us, and beloved by us, by the discovery of his goodness and grace. The saving of man by Christ, that is, by his incarnation, life, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension, do all tend to possess our hearts with his abundant grace. To the same tend also his merciful covenant, gracious promises, and all the benefits given to us ; his Spirit, pardon, and communion Avith God in glory, all is to fill our hearts with a sense of the love of God. And all this is no more than necessary ; for a guilty conscience is not easily settled, and brought to look for all kind of happiness from one whom we have so much wronged. Adam, when once a sinner, was shy of God, Gen. iii. 30 ; and sin still makes us hang from him. Guilt is suspicious, and if we have not one to lead us by the hand, and bring us to God, we cannot abide his presence. For this end serveth faith ; that sinners, being possessed of the goodness and grace of God, may be recovered and return to him by a fit means. In the new covenant, ]'epentauce more distinctly respects God, and faith respecteth Christ : Acts XX. 21 , ' Repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.' Repentance respects God, because from God we fell, and to God we must return. We fell from him, as we withdrew our allegi- ance, and sought our happiness elsewhere ; to him we return, as our rightful and proper happiness ; but faith respects tlie Mediator, who is the only remedy of our misery, and the means of our eternid
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354 THE SIXTEENTH SERMON. [JoHN III. IG.
blessedness. ITc opened the way to God by his merit and satisfaction, and actually brin<;eth us into this way by his renewing and reconciling grace, that we may be in a capacity both to please and enjoy God ; and that is the reason why faith in Christ is so much insisted on, as our title and claim to the blessedness of the new covenant. It hath a sjiecial aptitude and fitness for our recovery from sin to God, because it peculiarly respects the Mediator by whom we come to him.
2. With respect to Christ.
[1.] Because the whole dispensation of grace by Christ cannot well be apprehended by anything but faith ; partly because the way of our recovery is so supernatural, strange, and wonderful, that unless we believe God's testimony, how can we be persuaded of it ? That the carpenter's son should be the Son of that great architect and builder who framed heaven and earth ; that life should come to us by the death of another; that God should be made man, and the judge a party, and he that knew no sin be condemned as a criminal person ; that one crucified should procure the salvation of the whole world, and be Lord of life and death, and have such power over all flesh as to give eternal life to whom he will ; — reason is puzzled at these things ; faith can only unravel them. Partly because the comfort of the promises is so rich and glorious, and the persons upon whom it is bestowed so unworthy, that it cannot easily enter into the heart of a man that God will be so good and gracious to us : 1 Cor. ii. 9, ' Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things God hath prepared for them that love him.' Therefore, sense and reason could look for no such thing. Faith is necessary, and a strong faith, that it may work upon us. These are things which we could neither imagine nor hope for. Partly because the chief of our blessings lie in another world, and nature cannot see so far ofT, 2 Peter i. 9. Partly because Christ's most sincere people are afflicted with so many difficulties, and so seemingly forsaken ; and temptations to unbelief are many and pressing, that it is hard to main- tain any life in ourselves unless we have faith, that is, a strong assent and invincible trust. Well, now, consider for what good reason God requireth faith. Sense only looks to things seen and felt ; reason seeth effects in their causes, and yet but probably ; but faith is a believing such things as God hath revealed, because he hath revealed them ; and surely this only can sustain lis in the expectation of God's grace and mercy unto eternal life. Whilst we are employed in duties so opi)Osite to the bent of the carnal heart, and have so many tempta- tions to the contrary, what can support us but a strong and lively faith?